Martial Arts – Does Size Matter?

Throughout the years here in the United States we have been programmed by the media to accept the standards of things like boxing, mma etc.. We pit people against each other who have equal physical attributes. This type of pairing creates a false sense of reality.

In real life chances of you coming across a person who has studied martial arts is slim to none. Furthermore you will more than likely never come across someone who is the same height , size and strength who wants to smash your face in..

The reality of true martial arts is size, strength or any other physical attribute matters not. What matters in real martial arts is a persons skill. Once you take away a persons strength all they have left is their skill. It is from a standpoint of skill where we can truly level the playing field.

Whilst I like all martial arts and think all of them have real value to teach. I also feel that in many places the essence of martial arts isn’t there. I don’t claim to be a bad ass or anything like that. All I can say is I started training official in martial arts when I was in 3rd grade.. I am now 36 years old and martial arts is a big part of my life.

I teach students who are twice as strong as me and tower over me. Ironically when I first started training with my sifu I was much heavier and more than likely stronger than my sifu. But he schooled me like it was nobodies business.

My reality in martial arts is size does not matter.

Ask yourself this one question

Is your martial art such that a 5’4 woman can defend themselves against a steroid filled lunatic who weighs 240lbs and is 6’4? I am talking about real self defense. Is your martial art preparing you for sport or combat? Self defense or are you learning to play a game with rules?

Some people will watch this video and see 2 people playing 2 hand touch football. The wise will realize that this exercise teaches one to flow with energy. To be part of the whole if you will. Real martial arts isn’t about styles, real martial arts is about being in total control of yourself. In this way you will learn to be ever ready for anything or nothing at all. You will simply be……

Ground and pound type fighting will never teach the weak to overcome the strong…….

I prefer to watch MMA more simply because of the versatility. Boxing is just too one dimensional since it strictly involves punching, nothing else. In mixed martial arts, there are a wide array of fighting styles. There are wrestling holds, kicking, punching, grappling, throwing, and submissions, hence the term MIXED martial arts.

It is not size so much that matters, but strength and power. All things being equal, a stronger person will win. But things are never equal. Skill, toughness, speed, so much enters into it. A bigger person will usually hit harder, and can also absorb a bigger hit, and that is why you have weight divisions in MMA, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, etc. However, your average 200-pound man who chooses to mess with Manny Pacquiao would be in for a serious surprise.

In mixed martial arts, there are a wide array of fighting styles..A bigger person will usually hit harder, and can also absorb a bigger hit, and that is why you have weight divisions in MMA, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, etc.